Orlando Salido Knocks Out Kenichi Yamaguchi To Retain Featherweight Title

Top-ranked featherweight and WBO Featherweight Champion Orlando Salido (36-11-2, 24 KO)successfully defended his title after knocking out Kenichi Yamaguchi in Mexico on Saturday.

Yamaguchi (17-2-2, 4 KO) was knocked down early in Round 3 and fought hard to keep the fight competitive in the early and middle rounds.

The Japanese boxer also had to deal with a cut that occurred after a clash of heads in Round 5. The pressure would eventually catch up to him in Round 10 before he was finished in Round 11.

Salido has had an impressive 2011 and it may go down as the defining year of his 15-year career. His only loss since 2008 has been to Yuriorkis Gamboa, who is still undefeated.

Salido won the title after knocking out the former undefeated Puerto Rican star Juan Manuel Lopez (30-1, 27 KO) in April. Talks of a rematch between the two began to shape after his upset victory and it appears that is what is going to happen later this year.

Other top ranked featherweights include Chris John (45-0-2, 22 KO), Daniel Ponce De Leon (41-3, 34 KO) and Rafael Marquez (40-6, 36 KO). Former Salido opponent Cristobal Cruz (39-12-2, 23 KO) is also still ranked in the top of the division.